Holyrood praise for local businessman

An Aberdeenshire businessman, who helped with the design of Concorde, has been congratulated at the Scottish Parliament after winning a leading industry award.

Richard Marsh, who lives in Strathdon, was among those honoured at the recent Subsea UK Awards 2018, which marked the contribution of companies and individuals to the national sector.

The founder and former managing director of Tritech, which is based at Westhill, scooped the outstanding contribution accolade.

His achievment was recognised by Scottish Conservative energy spokesman and Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett who lodged a motion at Holyrood last Wednesday praising Mr Marsh and other winners and nominees.

Mr Marsh, who was behind the advance of remotely operated vehicles in the oil and gas sector, began his career at British Aerospace where he was part of Concorde’s design team, and helped to develop one of the first ROVs, Consub.

Mr Burnett said the subsea industry “owed a great debt” to Mr Marsh over 25 years in pioneering the successor to manned diving systems.

The MSP’s motion, which has been supported by more than 20 of his Parliamentary colleagues, reads: “That the Parliament congratulates all of the winners and the nominees at the Subsea UK Awards 2018, which were presented in Aberdeen … and celebrated the achievements of the companies and people in the subsea industry; welcomes the news that Richard Marsh, who is from Aberdeenshire, won the outstanding contribution Award; understands that Richard, who is known as one of the most charismatic characters and early proponents of the sector, was responsible for the 1,600 technicians and engineers who built 16 Concordes in the UK, and wishes him, and the sector, continued success.”

The Subsea UK Awards 2018 were held last month at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.